Buying 1D 4mp--- does the serial # matter?

[ernie_tangalakis]

I want to buy a used 1D. Low activations. I was wondering if the

serial # matters. If so how high should it be and why?

[john_stark]

what in the world? How could serial number have anything to do with number of activations other than a larger number would be a newer unit. maybe it was someones backup and didn't get used much, or it could be a refurb and was reset... it doesn't matter

[adzy]

John, what Ernie possibly means is whether they are known problems with particular batches- serial number ranges. In which case the question does actually make sense.

[ernie_tangalakis]

Yes, The older one were supposed to have some problems. So, I was just wondering at what serial # was the problems fixed. Low activations just meant I was looking for a 1D that wasn't used alot.

[andrew robertson]

This ain't a Leica M3 or a Nikon F.

 

Any one will do.

[john_stark]

The only "problem" I ever heard of was "repaired" by the firmware update.... next time phrasing the question properly would help.... either way the answer is NO... just make sure it has the latest firmware for that model, do NOT try using MKII or MKII N firmware.

[scott_m4]

It seems that the serial number may be relavent. There is some evidence to suggest that a running change was made to the hardware to address the horizontal noise line. See this page: http://www.tow.com/photo/articles/banding/ Note this comment attributed to Canon's Chuck Westfall: Early production 1D cameras that receive the HNL modification and the updated firmware have the same performance as the latest models. FYI, my camera is just north of 8000 in serial number and does not appear to exhibit the HNL problem. Then again, I don't know the ownership or service history of mine and I am also poor at spotting this artifact in example photos.